Songs That Remind Me of Women

I thought I had a whole month for this...but I think I've still got the right day.
So, I was thinking for International Women's Day, March 8th, that I would post eight music videos that remind me of women.  Either the women singing, what they're singing about, the subject of women, etc. You get it.  So here we go!

1. My niece, Maggie Slater and the video for her song "Pulp."  She has no idea how cool she is.  Well, maybe a little; but she doesn't seem to care.

2. A song about women.  Women decidedly not taking bullshite from a dude.  Kind of obscure; but I guarantee you won't get this slinky beat out of your head for days.  Gang of 4's "Woman Town."  

3.  Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work."  Everything about her speaks (or sings) to The Mystery That is Woman. Figures, she's half Irish.  She even directed the video to this.  Wish she'd done some features.  Maybe she still will.

So, I want to make this is as "international" as possible.  You know, a varitey of ethnicities amongst the ladies, etc.  Chaka Khan came to mind; and naturally, her undeniable anthem: "I'm Every Woman," which I love.  And Whitney's amazing version as well.  But, instead, I'm gonna go with this number, which I think is exemplary of passion.  The passion of any human's persuasion.  "Ain't Nobody."

Jennifer Lopez immediately leapt to mind when I was thinking about this (and you can't get much more "womanly" than JLo!).  Particularly her song "Waiting for Tonight." In fact, I liked this song so much, it was the reason I picked her CD On the 6 as one of my Columbia Music Club selections, back when there was such an entity (look it up whipper-snappers).  They referenced this one on SNL last night, so I took that as a sign.  So, here it is:

These two women harmonizing is always pretty incredible and this is one of my favorite instances of it.  Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson of The B-52's.  This band was always coming up with sly metaphors for sex and I had no idea what this song was all about until a couple of years ago when I read a quote of Cindy's: "...somebody told me this song was about making love!"  Made me hear it in a whole new way.

Oh so corny.  But in such a good way.  Sort of a lost ballad of courtly love, via the 70's.  Styx's "Lady."

I wanted to get some Asian ladies in here, but you know, there are not a lot of Asian women in popular music to choose from.  I thought of Yoko Ono; but then I had second thoughts.  Mainly, and I'm sorry to say this, but she can't really sing.  She vocalizes.  And I couldn't think of a Yoko song that made any sense for this, let alone be enjoyable to listen to.  "Walking on Thin Ice" came to mind, but it doesn't really have anything to do with women.  So, how about a song that is ejoyable, that was inspired by Yoko.  "Woman" by John Lennon.

Here's a woman who I think is the best rocker. Of all.  And here's an unapologetic rocker about ladies getting nasty and owning up to the consequences.  At least that's what I think it's about. And I know whereof I speak when I speak of the consequences of getting nasty.  Legendary Chrissie Hynde and her band Pretenders.

Ooops...I think I went over.  And I might even add some more!  This is fun.
I wanted to post some funny ladies singing and I will.  I wanted to post Gilda Radner as Candy Slice or Gilda, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Shelley Duvall as The Video Vixens singing about wanting to "beat the daylights out of Helen Hayes!" but I couldn't find any good clips on Youtube.  So instead, I'll give you the real thing on the fake Saturday Night Live; Fridays.  Wendy Williams, lead singer of the Plasmatics probably went beyond the antics most guys would do in the name of Rock.  She's still ahead of her time.  I knew she had passed away; but I didn't know it was at her own hand.  But I'll never forget watching this performance on live TV.

Here's a song that is pure ear candy.  And it features two women.  Really four.  The narrator of the song's Mama, his "little woman," and the two ladies actually in the band.  I prefer bands that have both male and female singers in them.  I mean, I love all the combos, but that's my favorite, like Fleetwood Mac.  Here's the Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose with "Too Late to Turn Back Now."

Here's Fleetwood Mac with one of their gorgeous harmonies.  What band more encapsulated the WOMAN/MAN-MAN/WOMAN dynamic?

Okay, now I kinda feel bad about Yoko Ono.  But who among us has actually listend to one of her songs from start to finish?  "Walking on Thin Ice" is about a "girl," so I guess it qualifies for this blog.  And Yoko does make me think of her when she sings.  And she's a woman.  So let's all give peace a chance...and give Yoko a chance...and all listen to "Walking on Thin Ice," our last entry.

FIN

CFR  3/11/24